New research reveals that veterans exposed to military bases with widespread Pfas contamination—stemming from firefighting foam use—have significantly higher levels of these toxic "forever chemicals" in their blood compared to non-veterans. The study, the first of its kind, confirms long-suspected links between service at polluted bases and elevated contamination, as soil and water near these facilities contain some of the highest Pfas concentrations in the country. Though the issue has been documented for years, the findings underscore growing concerns about the long-term health consequences for those who trained or worked at affected sites. The peer-reviewed study, led by Brown University, adds urgency to debates over accountability and cleanup efforts.
Soil and water around military bases show elevated levels of Pfas pollution due to chemicals used in firefighting foamMany US military veterans have much higher levels of Pfas “forever chemicals” in their blood than non-veterans, new peer-reviewed research finds, raising more questions about health risks the nation’s service members face after serving at polluted bases.Ground water, surface water and soil around military bases show among the highest levels of Pfas pollution in the US because the chemicals are used in firefighting foam deployed during training and emergencies. While the problem has been clear for over a decade, the new Brown University-led study is the first to compare levels in veterans’ blood with those in civilians. Continue reading...
